Flush-tank valve mechanism.



J. W. MEAKER. FLUSH TANK vALvE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21, 19m.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEETI lull SLW/buenas 521%. nf ZW 0% Lw. MEAKER.

fLu'sH TANK vALvE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1914.

1 ,238,3 1 '7. Patented Aug. 28, 1917. l

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J. W. MEAKER.

FLUSH TANK VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APILZI. I9I4.

1 ,238,3 1 '7, Patented Aug. 28, 1917..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

31a/umm JOHN W. MEAKER, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FLUSH-TANK VALVE MECHANISIVI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented AuO. 28, 1917.

Application :filed Apri127, 1914. Serial No. 834,563.

7 ati whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. Mmm, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush-Tank Valve Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the operation of valve mechanism for flush tanks, as ordinarily constructed the shut off is dependent upon the movement of a ball closure or the like which seals the outlet to the tank at an indeterminate point that varies according to the influx of the water. The intake valve is also controlled usually by a float operating independently of the outlet mechanism. This results in irregularity in the amount of water discharged from the tank and complicates the mechanism.

This invention relates to valve mechanism for flush tanks and to' means whereby a single float positively controls both the outlet or waste valve closure and the inlet or feed valve, the parts being so arranged as to minimize the number and diminish the liability to disarrangement under service.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in transverse section of a flush tank equipped with mechanism that embodies features of the invention showing the parts in closed position that is assumed when the tank is full;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tank and mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section through the flush tank equipped with a modification of the mechanism, showing the parts in the position assumed as the tank is fully emptied;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of this modication;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section of a flush tank showing a further modification of the device and more particularly of means for opening the flush valve;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of this further modiication; y

' Fig. 7 is a view in detail of one form of counter-balance weight and operating handle 5 Figs. 8 and 9 are views in detail of a preferred form of waste valve closure;

Fig. 10 is a reduced view in detail of a preferred arrangement of float mechanism and valve that eliminates exterior guides and simplifies the entire construction; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the preferred float construction.

Referring to the drawings a flush tank 1 is provided with water through an inlet valve 2 and with an outlet 3 both through openings in the tank base, with the usual means for insuring a tight joint. Preferably the inlet valve includes an upwardly discharging nipple 4 covered by a bonnet 5 in which a vertically reciprocable plug 6 moves in such manner as to seat on the nipple 4. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 5 a dribble pipe 7 leads from the upper part of the bonnet and discharges into an upright overflow pipe 8 that is in suitable communication with the outlet 8. Or the outlet 9 of the bonnet which in all instances preferably discharges toward the base of the tank may be disposed so that the inrush of water when the valve is open impinges against` a finger 10. The latter is pivoted between its ends on a hollow extension 11 of the outlet 3 according to the constructionsl shown in Fig. 3 with a closure 12 thereon that normally seals the dribble opening into the extension, but opens the latter when the finger is depressed by the incoming current of water. As a good detail of construction the movement of the finger 10 may be limited by the use of a downturned end portion 13 as a stop. VThe plug 6 is articulated as by a link 14 with a rock arm 15 which is preferably pivoted on a main operating shaft 16 journaled transversely across the tank above the level of the contents of the latter. A trip member 17 extends outwardly from the opposite part ofthe rock arm 15 over the outlet 3.

The shaft may be depressed by a suitable push member 18 connected to an arm 19 eX- tending from the shaft as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 or may be turned by means of a handle 20 applied directly to the shaft end as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The upper end of the outlet 3 which stands at an interval above the tank base is flanged or otherwise arranged to form an annular valve seat which may be sealed by `rounded margin Q5 of the shell.

a closure preferably having an inverted shell 21 whose lower open end is closed by a diaphragm 22 of flexible material. `The latter as indicated in Fig. 1, may be clamped at its margins in the flange 23 of a collar 2l, (Fig. 1) that is screwthreaded on to the shell whereby the diaphragm may be stretched more or less tightly over the Or as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 the diaphragm 22 may be merely clamped in a marginal flange 26 of the shell. Another rform of'construction is shown in Figs. 8 and'9 in which the diaphragm is apertured to be stretched over lugs 27 in the margin of the shell, the lugs then being outturned as indicated lto 'hold the diaphragm in place.

An arm 28 that extends from the shaft 1G is connected near its outer end to a stem Z9 whose lower end issecured to the-shell 21 and is provided with an extension 3() below the diaphragm 22 which, as indicated in Fig. 1, passes through a guide member 31 in the outlet 3. A suitable guide bracket 32 (Fig. 1) may also serve to keep the stem in upright position. `This construction of the guiding members is preferable where the outerend portion of the lever 23 is forked to loosely embrace thek stem and lift it by means of an overlying ball 33 thereon. The stem, however, may be hollow as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 for example, with its upper end loosely articulated to the apertured end of the lever arm Q8 while the shell 21 either has depending guide fingers or else isfloosely centered over the loutlet by upright guide arms 34 (Fig.

A float 3G of suitable form is reciprocable on the stem 9.9, and is of such proportions 'that when the contents of the taiikis at a predetermined level it bears upwardly againstV they trip 17 with suiiicient force to hold the plug` 6 seated on the inlet'nipple 4 and thereby shut off the `water supply. When the contents of the tank is discharged the vfloat is adapted to drop upon the closurel and seat the latter.

In order that the outlet valve may remain open after the push member 18er corresponding handle 20 has been momentarily ydepressed without further attention on the part of the operator, a weight member 37 is mounted on the shaft 16 to tilt with the oppositely extending arms 19 and 28 so that when the arm 19 is depressed the weight falls in that direction and thereby overbalances the outlet valve and its stem. VAs the contents of the tank is thereby discharged the float 36 recedes from the trip 17 thereby permitting the pressure of water against the plug 6 to unseat the latter and commence to' fill the tank. Then the Hoat strikes the shell 21 in its downward course it seats the latter and holds it until sufficient pressure of the rising contents of the tank `justmcnt in balance between the float and the couiiterbalance. It is to be further understood that the mechanical details such as connections betweenl the parts and their general form maybe varied within the limits of good shop practice.

One such variation that eliminates the use of the guiding means for the outlet closure and-float is indicated in the preferred form of construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 in which the outlet 3 has an exteriorly squared, polygonal or splined upright waste pipe 40. A suitably designed float 41 has guides 42 extending therefrom that looselyy slide upon the waste pipe 40 `and thereby. hold the vfloatfinsubstantially axial alinement with the'outlet 3. A closure shell 43 for the koutlet is provided with an upright stem lcwhicli isguided by sliding engagement through a tubular opening 4through the float and is loosely engaged at its upper end to an operating member from the main shaft. This arrangement holds .the float and closure. in position both for controlling the outlet closure and for moving a trip member 45.

As a result of this construction a valve mechanism is obtained thatzis positive in action, that -is easily adjusted and that is maintained in operative condition with little trouble. The closure for the outlety is held open vuntil the downward movement-of the float depresses it so that lit does .not vary in relation to the discharge of the tank as does the usual float orA globe closure in common use. As the diaphragm of the closure is readily replaced it .does not necessitate: the replacement of the outlet valve asis the case where the ordinary collapsible bulb closure is used.

Obviously, changes in the details of construction vmay be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I. do not care toA` limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

A flush tank provided Iwith an inlet and an outlet, a vertically reciprocable closure over the outletprovided with depending resilient guiding members engaging the outlet walls and anupright hollow stem openthe closure to seal the outlet when the tank empties, a shaft secured in the tank transversely to the stem7 manually Operable means oscillatory on the shaft adapted to engage the outlet Closure stem for raising the latter, a valve for the inlet adapted to open under pressure of incoming iiuid, a rook arm on the shaft operatively connected to the inlet Valve closure and arranged to lie in the path of upward motion of the iioat to close the valve as the float approaches its upward limit of motion, and a weight member on the outlet Valve operating,` arm so balanced as to hold the outlet closure in open position until the latter is depressed by the float and then to l5 retain the outlet closure in seated position until shifted manually to its other limit of motion.

n testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN W. MEAKER. Witnesses:

C. R. STIOKNEY, A. M. DORR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). C. 

